Please join me on the longest trip of my life! This epic journey will cover over 22,000 miles and explore the islands of the Antarctic and the Antarctic Peninsula, then continue to South Georgia Island, onto the Falkland Islands, and back to Santiago, Chile. From there we travel westward to Easter Island about 2300 miles west of Santiago, far out into the Pacific Ocean, and then finally one month after starting the trip, I will return home to Ames, Iowa.

What follows is an tentative itinerary, maps, and various links for cities, islands, hotels, the ship I am on, as well as various other travel related information. Once the journey begins I will attempt to give blog updates when I can, depending on how reliable and expensive the satellite internet connection on the ship proves to be. If I am able I will include some photos along the way, of a smaller size to help you see what I am seeing. The web is filled with information, stories, and photos of all the places I am visiting, by just "Googling" a place such as Deception Island, you can see where and what it is. If you have a burning question and know my email address you can send it to me, and I will check as I have time, and most likely respond here in this blog.


The photo on the masthead, obviously is not mine (not yet anyway)! It was taken on the island of South Georgia, which is about a thousand miles south east of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. We will spend three days in South Georgia capturing images like the one above, which shows thousands of King Penguins. These were the stars of the popular movie, "March of the Penguins," which you may have seen. Share and enjoy the expedition with me, when you are able.


There is more of this blog that will show when you scroll to the bottom of your screen, so when there click OLDER POSTS, or find the "blog archive" section to the right of the postings and click on the topic you wish to see.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Update 11-25-09...

This is a text only update to make things current at least on this section of the blog. The date is Wednesday, November 25, 2009, as I am typing this it is 11:52 AM here in the Weddell Sea, South East of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. That makes it nearly 9 AM in Ames, Iowa, so if the kids at Meeker check in today they will know where I am located. It is cold and windy out here in the open sea...and rough! The ship rocks a great deal back and forth, and while my stomach protested at 7 AM today, it is fine now. Earlier today in the dining room, the ship pitched a great deal to one side and dozens of glass plates and cups all fell to the floor and broke. I was not there at the time, but it must have been dramatic.

The temperature is just at about the freezing level of 32 degrees F, but we have strong winds as high as 45 mph at times that toss this ship around a great deal. We are heading to South Georgia Island and should get there by Thanksgiving Day most likely in the evening.

Other postings which follow this one may appear out of order, because I have been so busy, or needing sleep or the satellite link on the ship was not working well, or all of the above! This is not a pleasure cruise, but a working one as I see it, and when we go ashore on Zodiac rafts and hike in the snow to be with penguins, up steep hills, and across rocky beaches it is hard work, at least for this photographer.

You will see other postings on other topics that have occurred prior to todays date, but they still will hopefully be of interest. The icebergs are fantastic and come in all sizes and shapes from GIANT to little sculptured wonders. They will appear in a post sometime soon as well. Time to go for now...more later!
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